Nutritional Profile, Anti-anaemic and Antioxidant Effects of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Senna occidentalis on Male Wistar Albino Rats

Background: The causes of anaemia vary and include iron deficiency, vitamin deficiency, inflammation-related anaemia, aplastic anaemia, anaemias related to bone marrow diseases, hemolytic anaemia, and sickle cell anaemia.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional profile, anti-anaemic, and antioxidant properties of the aqueous extract of Senna occidentalis leaves on anaemia induced by phenylhydrazine.

Methodology: Firstly, the nutritional composition of the extract was analyzed using AOAC methods. Then, hemolytic anaemia was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 40 mg/kg body weight for 2 consecutive days in 25 male rats. After two days, animals were randomly divided into six groups: G1 (non-anaemic control), G2 (anaemic control), G3 (reference solution), G100 (100 mg/kg/day of the aqueous extract leaf), G200 (200 mg/kg/day of the aqueous extract leaf), G300 (300 mg/kg/day of the aqueous extract leaf). After the 14-day treatment period, the animals of all groups were sacrificed and blood samples were taken to analyze the biochemical and hematological parameters. Organ samples from the sacrificed rats were excised and weighed.

Results: the aqueous extract of Senna occidentalis leaves contains 14.50% proteins, 31.04% sugars, 19.28% ash, 5.02% fibers, Vitamin C (46.79 mg/100 g), and β-carotene (3.32 mg/100 g). It increased the haemoglobin concentration, RBC counts, and hematocrit rate in extract-treated groups, but lower mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) level. Spleen weight increased in G100, G200, and reference solution groups. Kidney weight increased in G200 and G300 groups. Catalase activity rose in G300, while SOD activity increased in the positive control. Serum iron levels rose in G100 and G300 groups. Triglyceride levels decreased in G100 and G200 groups, and HDL cholesterol increased in extract treated and reference solution groups.

Conclusion: The aqueous extract of Senna occidentalis, rich in iron and bioactive compounds, improves hematological parameters and could thus be used for anaemia management.